Braiding machine



May 26, 1936.

c. M. LAWSON ET AL 2,042,065

' BRAIDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5,- 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 W fizgazhr flak, Adi/1W3 jkwmizfif Z W m,

May 26, 1936.

'C. M. LAWSON ET AL BRAIDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BRAIDIN G MACHINE Chester M. Lawson, Lynnfield, and Benjamin Hutnick, Malden, Mass.

Application February 5, 1935, SerialNo. 5,038

'7 Claims. (Cl. 96-3) This invention relates to a braiding machine recess as it passes through the gaps successively for braiding a plurality of strands continuously created between an inner carrier and the rotary into fiat, tubular, or other desired forms as they member. are being drawn upwardly in converging relation- With the foregoing and other features and obship from a plurality of spools or their equivajects in view, the present invention will now be 5 lents. The braiding machine of the present indescribed with particular reference to the acvention is of compact, inexpensive and sturdy companying drawings wherein,- construction; is capable of running at high speed Figure l is a front elevation, partly in section, with little noise and with a large output of work; of a braiding machine embodying the present incan be readily compounded and coordinated with vention. 10 the parts of one or more similar machines into Figure 2 is a plan view of the unit, partly in a multiple machine; and is especially adapted to section, on the line 2--2 of Figure 1, showing the braid a plurality of strands about a core strand. outer carriers after they have crossed the inner The braiding machine of the present invention carriers and are just emerging from the .recesses comprises a plurality of independent inner spool in the disc for guiding the inner carriers. 15

carriers each movable in a fixed common inner Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showcircular path and a plurality of independent outer ing the outer carriers shortly before they have spool carriers movable in separate fixed outer circrossed the inner carriers and immediately after cular paths intersecting the fixed inner circular they have entered into the recesses in the disc.

path. The spools of all the carriers are ar- Figure 4 is aview similar to Figure 3 but show- 20 ranged approximately on the same level or ing the outer carriersimmediately after they have plane and, as the strands are withdrawn therecrossed the inner carriers but are still in the refrom upwardly in converging relationship, all cesses in the disc.

of the inner spool carriers are caused to move Figure 5 is a greatly enlarged section on the continuously and simultaneously in one direction line 55 of Figure 4. 25 in their inner circular path and all of the outer Figure 6 is also a greatly enlarged section on spool carriers are caused to move continuously the line 66 of Figure 4. and simultaneously in the same circular direc- Figure 7 depicts a core covered by braided tion in their outer circular paths and in such fabric produced by the braiding machine of the timed relation to the inner spool carriers that present invention. 30

the outer and inner carriers cross one another in Figure 8 illustrates diagrammatically and coneach of their revolutions, in consequence of which Ventionally amultiple machine adapted for prothe desired interlocking or intertwisting of the ducing tubular braided fabric. strands into a braided fabric is effected. The Referring i t 17 Figure it W be Obse ve Q5 movement of the inner spool carriers is effected that the machine therein shown comprises four by a rotary member located within the inner spool carriers whose spools of thread I'll are on circular path traversed by such inner carriers. approximately the same level orplane and deliver In the course of rotation of such rotary member, their threads in converging relationship upwardly it successively engages and disengages each inner through an apertured guide l and thence into 40 carrier at a plurality of points, but it is conthe nip of apair of feed rolls I2. Braiding of the 40 stantly engaged with each inner carrier at least threads takes place at a point I3 just below the at one point. When such rotary member disenguide ll, the rolls I2 being rotated'by suitable gages an inner carrier, a gap is created locally means (not shown) at a rate of speed designed therebetween; and the movement of an outer to deliver a fabric ofthe desiredtightness :or carrier is so timed with that of an inner carrier closeness of braided texture. The machine is 45 that it passes through the successive local gaps shown as being supplied with a core strand I4 created between such rotary member and an inner about which the strands supplied from the spools carrier. Each inner carrier also includes a block I'll may be braided. If desired, the core strand support slidably engaged on the periphery of a may be elastic rubber thread, whereas the braidrotary disc which defines the pathof movement ed outer ones may be fibrous. The composite 50 of such inner carrier. The periphery of the'disc strand as taken from the-feed rolls I2 appears in is recessed to receive therein the outer carriers Figure 7 and-is made up of the core strand l4 and and the disc is rotated ina direction opposite to quadruplicate strands l5 braided thereabout. that of an outer carrier and in such timed rela- When the'corestrand is elastic rubber thread and tion thereto that anouter carrier is received in a such thread is covered'by braided fibrous threads, 55

, carrier.

the composite strand is elastic and can be used in making elastic woven or knitted fabrics. Of course, the composite strand may be one whose core strand is wire and whose braided sheathing strands are wire, fibrous thread, etc.

The machine of the present invention includes a pair of independent inner spool carriers indicated generally at l6 and |6a. Each carrier includes an arcuate block support H of considerable length 'slidably engaged on the periphery of a horizontal disc l8, the support for one carrier being stationed diametrically opposite to that of the other. As best shown in Figure 5, the peripheral or rim portion of the disc I8 is equipped with an upper peripheral bearing and guide ring |8c and a lower peripheral bearing and guide ring |8b. Each block support I! is formed as two parts, namely, an upper part |'|a engaging over the guide ring |8c and a lower part l'lb engaging over the lower guide ring |8b, the twoparts being suitably fastened together. Each block support is thus fastened to the disc l8 but the disc is freely rotatable in a direction opposite, to the movement imparted .to the support. The upper piece l'la of the support has upstanding therefrom a spindle l9 provided with a platform 20 on which stands a Spool -|0.' The spindle l9 and the platform 20 are, of course, part of each inner spool As will hereinafter appear, the disc l8 is.rotated in one direction while the spool carriers engaged thereon are caused to move in an opposite direction.

The machine also comprises a pair of independcated generally as 2| and 2|a. Each outer spool carrier includes a horizontal crank arm 22, the inner end portionof which is fixed to the upper end of a vertical shaft 23 and the outer end por- I tion of which carries an upstanding, spindle 24 40' provided with a platform 25 on which stands a spool ID, as best shown in Figure 1. The spindle- 24 and the platform 25 are, of course, part of each outer spool carrier. One outer spool carrier 2| is on one side of the disc I 8 and the other outer spool .carrier 2|a on the opposite side of the disc. Although each shaft 23 is well outside the periphery of the disc l8, passing up through an upper horizontal support 26 to rotate the crank arm 22, yet the spindle 24 carried by the outer end portion of the crank22 moves in an orbit or circular path within the peripheral edge or rim of the disc, wherefore, provision must be made for receiving each spindle 24 within the disc. To

thisend, the disc has on opposite sides thereof a recess 21 extending inwardly from its periphery, the rotation of each crank 22 being in a direction opposite to thatof the disc and being so timed with relation to the disc that each outer spindle 24 and the outer spool carried thereby'enters into a recess 21 andv moves across or past the inner face of an arcuate block support] I and the inner spool carried thereby, gaps between such support and a rotary driving member 40 therefor, whose axis of rotationis concentric with that of the disc, being created to permit such movement of each outer spindle 24, as willhereinafter appear. 7

Provision is made to drive orrotate the various spool carriersand the disc l8 from a single source of, power. The driving mechanism, which is shown inflFigure' IV as being located largely in between theupper horizontal support 26 and a lower horizontalsupport 28, includes a, driving pulley 29 to which rotation is imparted by a belt 30 from an electricmotor or other suitable source of power (not shown) Extending from and integral with the upper end of the pulley is a hol-- low shaft 3| which passes upwardly through the support 28 and terminates somewhat below the disc I8, as shown in Figure 5. Keyed to the shaft 3| in between the support 26 and the upper face of the pulley 29 is a gear 32 meshing on each side with an idler gear 33 which in turn meshes with a gear 34 affixed to each crank shaft 23. Each crank 22 is-thus caused to rotate in the same direction. as the. other. One of the crank shafts 23 has a gear 35 aflixed thereto just above the lower support 28, which latter gear, through successive idler gears 36 and 31, imparts rotation to a gear 38 located in between the lower face of the pulley 29 and the lower support 28. The gear 38 is fixed to a second hollow shaft 39 passing up through the pulley 29 and the hollow of the shaft 3| to the disc |8,- which latter is keyed thereto, as best shown in Figure 5. It is thus seen that the disc I8 is caused to rotate in a direction opposite to'that of the cranks 22.

Keyed to the upper end of the shaft 3| is a rotary member 40 whose peripheral edge describes a path well within that of the inner spool carriers I6, including the block supports H, but which has fixed therein for reciprooatory or sliding motion a pair of fingers or bars 4| at least one of which constantly engages in one of the block supports IT to cause ro'tative movement of the latter. As best shown in Figure 6, each finger 4| is fitted into a recess in the rotary member 40 adjacent toa side edge of such member, the recess extending upwardly from the lower face of such member. As shown, the recess is of rectangular form and the finger 4| is complemental thereto, being held from downward movement by a pair of longitudinal strips 42 engaging over its lower face and defining a longitudinal clearance 43 between them. Reciprocation of the fingers 4| is effected by an eccentric arm 44 which, as shown in Figure 5, is fixed to a lower hub portion |8c of the disc |8 in between the lower face of such disc and the upper face of the rotary member 40.-

The eccentric arm 44 actuates an eccentric pin 45 which is pivoted therein and which passes loosely down through the rotary member 49 toa double-acting rocker 46 to which it is also pivotally secured. The double-acting rocker 46 is fulcrumed by a pivot pin 4'! adjacent to the lower face of the rotary member 40 to which such pin is secured; and each of the oppositely extending arms of the rocker is fixed at its end portion to a finger 4| by a pin 48 whose head portion passesfreely down through the clearance 43 and projects loosely through an elongated slot 49 in 1 such end portion. The action of the eccentric 44 as it rotates in a direction opposite to that of the rotary member 48 is to cause the double acting rocker 46 to reciprocate the fingers 4| in their slots in the rotary member and to cause their end portions to engage and disengage successively the block supports H. To this end, the lower part Nb of each block support is provided at its lower face and near each end thereof with a recess 49 into which the end portion of a finger 4| may be projectedso as to engage the block support and cause the desired rotational movement of the latter.

Theaction of the machine and the timing of movement of its parts may be best understood by considering Figures 2, 3 and 4, which show different positions of the various spool carriers and the disc I8 as the machine is being operated. It will be observed that in Figure 2, the pair of outer spool carriers 2| and 'their' spools have just passed aosegocs :out of lthe-rrecessesffl in thef disc .1 1 8:1 and that the oppositeaend-aportions of: the pair of'fingers f 4 I: are still engaged in the slots49 in opposite end :portio-ns-oft the: opposite 'block' supports-"l1. In thisaconnection, 'it..is .-:well. :again tov observe that at leastone end; portion of a :pin 4 .iscon'stantly in engagement'with ablock support so that both block: supports have continuous rotational movement. It will be observed that. in Figure3, the left-handouter 'spoolsspindlei24 has: been re- 'ceived in one of the disc recesses 21 and has 1 passed beyond-the adjacent end i offthe lower jifinger4| which=has been retractedby the action 1' of the'rocker 46'so1that its oppositezend portion is engaging in *therright-hand block support- However at the" same: time, the upper finger 4 is shown in F'igure3 as being in engagement with the upper end portion of the left-hand block support |'|,having been:retracted by the action of the rocker '46 sufiiciently. topermitthe righthand-outer spool spindle:24 to clear pastits righthand end. Figure'4 shows the left-hand outer 1 spool spindle24 as itis clearing the left-hand end of'the upper finger 4| andtheright hand outer spool-spindle 24 as it is clearing the right=hand end of 'the lowerfinger 4|, at which time the upper finger 4| is engaging the upperend portion of the' right-handblock support' and-"the lower finger 4| is engaging therlower end portion'ofithe left-hand block support. It is thus rrseen that the ratesofrro'tations ofthe cranksr22, the'disc l8 and the rotary member 40:;are so timed with relation to eachother that each outer spindle 24 enters' into a recess 21: in the disc |8 and remains therein as 'it'passesliby one end porition of a block supportwwhile one finger 4| has :been retracted suificientlyto form the V desired -.zgap through which it can passycrosses' 'an inner spool spindle I9, and passes bytheother end portion. of the sameblock while the other finger 4| -has been retracted ito- :iorm the desired gap through which itcanpass. FThe ratesof rotation --of the inner carriers and theouter carriersv are ssuch that each inner carrieriandeach outer carrier cross eachother'in each of their revolutions. :Thismeans that1thread from each inner spool is :caused to 'interlock with the thread of an :iouter spool and the-threads from both inner spools caused to interlock, since eachinner spool crosses an outerspool in every revolution'of'its carrier and the-threads of both inner spools are caused to intertwist during; each revolution thereof. As already indicated, the inner; shaft 39:is hollow and the lower support 28 :and the step bearing 50- shown therein below the gear 38 may be apertured to permit acore strand to be fed continuously up through such shaft and out .through a disc |8 to theguide sothat braid- .ing, of the threads from the spools .||3.. may take place about such corelstrand.

As. illustrated in Figure. 8, it is possible to build a braidingmachinebyrompounding a number of inner and outer spoolcarriers, as desired. Thus, the machine of Figure 8 comprises a rectangular array of four discs I8, each of which serves as the guide for a pair of inner spool carriers l6 but comprises only four outer spool carriers 22. In other words, only one outer spool carrier 22 may be arranged to coact with two adjacent discs I8 and their inner spool carriers. The particular array shown in Figure 8 is for producing a tubular fabric, but it is obvious that fiat or semi-tubular braided fabrics may be produced by other suitable arrangements of the braiding units.

' 'viddiwith recesses extending inwardly from its periphery innerspool carriers arranged on opposite'sidesof said-disc and each slidably engaged =-'over partof its peripheral portion, means on said disc for guiding said carriers in a fixed circular path onsaid disc, a rotary member whose axis ofrotation. is coincidental with that of said disc and; having a plurality of fingers successively engageable in and-disengageable from'said carriers but at least one of which is constantly engaged -with-each of said carriers, means for rotating said-member in one direction to cause movement ofsaid carriers intheir'fixedcircular path on said "disc, means for actuating said fingers during the "rotation of said member to cause them successively to-engageand disengage each carrier, dis- -'-engagement creating a local gap between the carrierand said-member, means for rotatingsaid -disc in a direction opposite to that of said member', outer spool spindles movable in separate fixed outer circular paths intersecting saidfix'ed inner circular path, and means for causing each of said outer spool spindles to move in its outer path and in'such timed relation to said disc and said fingers as to cause each outer spool spindle to enter into a disc recess-andpass through the local gaps created between said'carrier and said member-across the inner'side of an inner carrier in each revolution of an inner carrier.

2.'In a 'braiding'machine, a rotary disc provided with recesses extending inwardly from its for-guiding said carriers in a fixed circular path on said disc, a rotary member whose axis of rotation is coincidental with that of said disc and having a plurality of fingers engageable with and disengageable from said carriers but'jat least. one of which -is-constantly engaged'with each of'said carriers, disengagement ofa fingerfrom acarrier creating a local gap therebetweemmeans for ro- -tating said member, means'ior'actuating said fingers during the-rotation of saidmembers'to cause them successively to engage and disengage each carrier, outer spool spindles movable in separate fixed'outer paths intersecting saidfixed inner circular path of said'inner'carriers,means for'rotating said disc in adirection opposite'to that of said member, and means forcontinuously moving outer spool spindles in a direction opposite to that of said disc and in such timed relation 'tosaid disc and said fingers as to cause each from its periphery, inner spoolcarriers arranged on opposite sides of said disc and each slidably engaged over part of its peripheral portion, means on said disc for guiding each carrier in a fixed circular path on said disc, a horizontal rotary member whose axis of rotation is coincidental with that of said disc and successively engageable with and disengageable from each carrier at a plurality of points but which is constantly engaged with each carrier at least at one point, outer vertical spool spindles arranged on opposite sides of said disc and each rotatable about an axis outside of the path of said disc periphery periphery, inner spool carriers arranged on op posite sides of said disc and sildably engage'dover part of its peripheral portion, means on said disc Cal and in an outer fixed path intersecting that of said disc periphery, means for rotating said disc, means for rotating said member in an opposite direction, means for rotating each of said spool spindles in such timed relation to said disc as to cause each spindle to enter into a recess in said disc and move across the inner side of an inner carrier, and means for disengaging the rotary member from each inner carrier sequentially at said various points to permit each outer spool spindle to move across the inner side of an inner carrier.

4. In a braiding machine, a rotary disc provided with recesses extending inwardly from its periphery, a pair of inner spool carriers arranged on opposite sides of said disc and each slidably engaged on its peripheral portion over a substantial are, means on said disc forguiding said carriers in a fixed circular path on said disc, a plurality of rotary fingers extending outwardly from an axis of rotation coincident with that of said disc and at least two being engageable with each carrier at spaced points in said are, means for rotating said disc, means for rotating said fingers in an opposite direction to move said carriers in their fixed circular path on said disc, means for repeatedly disengaging one of said fingers from a carrier while maintaining another engaged'with said carrier, thereby creating a gap between said carrier and said disengaged finger, outer spool carriers movable in separate fixed outer paths intersecting said fixed inner circular path, and means for continuously moving each outer carrier in such timed relation to said disc and said fingers that each said outer carrier is received in a disc recess and passes through the gaps successively created between an inner carrier and said fingers across the inner side of an inner carrier in each revolution of an inner carrier.

5. In a braiding machine, a rotary disc provided with recesses extending inwardly from its periphery, a pair of inner spool carriers arranged on opposite sides of said disc and each slidably engaged on its peripheral portion over a substantial arc, means on said disc for guiding said carriers in a fixed circular path on said disc, a plurality of rotary fingers extending outwardly from an axis of rotation coincident with that of said disc and at least two being engageable with each carrier at spaced points in said are, means for rotating said disc, means for rotating said fingers in an opposite direction to move said carriers in their fixed circular path on said disc, means for repeatedly disengaging one of said fingers from a carrier while maintaining another engaged with said carrier, thereby creating a gap between said carrier and said disengaged finger, a pair of outer spool spindles arranged on opposite sides of said disc, a rotatable crank carrying each said spindle, the axis of rotation of each crank being outside of said disc and rotation of each crank causing its spindle to intersect the fixed circular path of an'inner carrier, and means for rotating said cranks in a direction opposite to that of said disc and at such timed relation to said disc and said fingers that each said outer spool spindles is received in a disc recess and 5 passes through the gaps successively created between an inner carrier and said fingers across the inner side of an inner carrier in each revolution of an inner carrier.

6. In a braiding machine, a rotary disc provided with recesses extending inwardly from its periphery, a pair of inner spool carriers arranged on opposite sides of said disc and each slidably engaged over part of its peripheral portion, means on said disc for guiding said carriers in a fixed circular path on said disc, a pair of outer spool spindles arranged on opposite sides of said disc,

a rotatable crank carrying each said spindle, the axis of rotation of each crank being outside of said disc and rotation of each said crank causing its spindle to intersect the fixed circular path of an inner carrier, means for continuously moving said inner carriers in their fixed circular path on said disc, and means for rotating said cranks in a direction opposite to that of said disc and in such timed relation to said disc as to cause each spindle to move into a disc recess and to cross the inner side of an inner carrier in each revolution of an inner carrier.

7. In a braiding machine, a rotary disc provided with recesses extending inwardly from its periphery, a pair of inner spool carriers arranged on opposite sides of said disc and each slidably engaged over part of its peripheral portion, means on said disc for guiding said carriers in a fixed circular path on said disc, a pair of outer spool spindles arranged on opposite sides of said disc and movable in separate fixed outer circular paths intersecting said fixed inner circular path,

a rotary member arranged inwardly of said carriers and provided with a plurality of fingers engageable with and disengageable from each carrier but at least one of which is constantly engaged with each carrier, means for rotating said member to cause movement of said carriers in their fixed circular path on said disc, means for actuating said fingers during the rotation of said member to cause them to successively engage and disengage each carrier, disengagement creating a local gap between a carrier and said member, means for rotating said disc in a direction opposite to that of said member, and means for moving each of said spool spindles in its fixed outer circular path in a direction opposite to that of said disc and in such timed relation to said disc and said member to cause each spindle to move into a disc recess and through the local gaps created between said carrier and said member across the inner side of an inner carrier in each revolution of an inner carrier.

CHESTER M. LAWSON.

BENJAMIN I-lUTNICK. 

